You know, smart sensing technology and thermostats where if areas aren't occupied, why are we calling them? Why are we heating them? You know, there is a great opportunity here for innovation and for us to save money through innovation and people thinking smarter," said Hopcus. We currently have to use renewable energies more also to make smart buildings to decrease on energy consumption, higher efficiency units that decrease on energy consumption. "We have great opportunities with our buildings and infrastructures. A broad diversified approach he suggested state officials may want to follow.
TEXAS POWER GRID GENERATOR
"I think it’s a good and healthy debate," said Hopcus.Īlong with that optimism Hopcus has a small gas generator as a backup and is also considering installing solar shingles. For others like Cedar Park resident Kevin Hopcus, the debate may bring real change. And by that I mean batteries," said Hirs.ĮRCOT, PUC express confidence in Texas' power grid heading into summerĪs far as the bigger picture, both ERCOT and the PUC touted new reports that they say show the grid has the resources to meet summer demand, including brand new power generation.įor some, the debate erodes confidence in the grid. "And we don't have yet enough storage capacity.
/static.texastribune.org/media/images/Ercot_Electricity_Chart.010.png "texas power grid")
Increasing wind and solar is part of the strategy in meeting demand. expects sufficient generation to meet forecasted demand." In a statement sent to FOX 7, officials at ERCOT said the agency: ". No one's really looking out for the shareholders of the state, the consumers of the state, the voters of this state," said Hirs. The Public Utility Commissioners, the legislature and ERCOT have all been captured by the companies and the commodities traders. Hirs is not confident the ongoing redesign of the power market by the Texas Public Utility Commission will provide better protection for the consumer. The result? Companies win, consumers lose." Better for generating companies to wait for prices to spike and make a windfall than to increase supply and keep prices down. In the article Hirs wrote in part, "new traditional power plants aren't being built for a simple reason: it’s more profitable not to build. The WSJ cited grid operators as a warning recently that the pace of progress in battery storage capacity development was too slow to compensate for the closures of fossil fuel power plants in favor of wind and solar installations."I think we're going to need a lot of luck to get through the summer without rolling blackouts," said Hirs. states and Manitoba, issued a warning about outages during the summer. California warned that it would need to produce more electricity if it is to avoid blackouts, and The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the nonprofit charged with operating the power grid in 15 U.S.
Several grid operators have warned this summer will see electricity shortages as they anticipate they will be unable to cope with the call for power. Critics of ERCOT-which grew in number after the horrific Texas freeze that resulted in blackouts that claimed the lives of 246 people-argue that calls for decreased power usage in the middle of May, well below typical peak summer temperatures, is a worrisome sign.
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